Peugeot 308 VTi – Improved value
Since its introduction, the Peugeot 308 has proven to be quite a hit amongst Malaysian motorists. We at Autoworld.com.my are especially aware of this not just because we see a ton of these cars on the road, but also because our forums are bristling with 308 owners sharing experiences of their cars and organizing TTs.
When the 308 was officially launched for the Malaysian market in January 2009, it was offered in two variants, priced nearly RM15k apart. Cheaper of the two variants was the 308 VTi, which went for RM96,500 on-the-road with insurance. Compared to the more expensive 308 Turbo, the VTi had a less powerful engine, but was still generously equipped for its price.
Contrary to the expectations of local distributors Nasim Sdn Bhd, many customers opted to plonk that extra RM15k and go for the Turbo version. This situation created havoc in Nasim’s stock situation early on as there were too many units of the VTi in the inventory, and not enough units of the Turbo to meet demand. A price increase of RM3,000 for the Turbo did nothing to reverse this interesting trend.
Earlier this year, Nasim launched an improved version of the 308 VTi offering more equipment, but at an increased price of RM99,888 inclusive of insurance. The RM3,500 premium over the launch-spec model gets the new VTi buyer dual-zone climate control, electric folding wing mirrors, multi-function display, cruise control, body-coloured side mountings and leather-wrapped steering.
Revisions have also been made to the instrument panel, fabrics, front grille, and sport rims. The overall package adds up quite convincingly, especially when put together with equipment which came with the VTi from day one – auto headlights and wipers, 4 airbags, active headrests, ISOFIX, ABS, EBD, EBA, and engine immobilizer.
Nothing new under the hood though. It’s the naturally aspirated version of the 1.6-litre BMW-PSA Prince engine making 120hp @ 6,000rpm and 160Nm @ 4,250rpm. It features dual variable valve lift & timing, but runs on a conventional multi-point injection system.
The engine itself is fine, revving smoothly all the way to the red zone when prodded but without the same ‘kick in the pants’ feeling that the Turbo gives. It compares well with rival engines of similar displacement, having a slight deficit in power against most, but making up for it by twisting out more torque. Paired with it is the same 4-speed automatic transmission that is also used in the 308 Turbo.
It has been said that the French are pretty hopeless when it comes to making automatic gearboxes, and the 308’s unit does nothing to dispel that wisdom. The catalog boasts of Porsche’s Tiptronic control software, but all we experienced were slow and poorly timed shifts. In manual mode, there was a peculiar bug in the software which causes the ‘box to upshift two cogs when you bang the lever into ‘+’.
At this stage, you might be tempted to say that this is typical of a 4-speed gearbox, but that would be assuming a simplistic view. While having four gears to pick from is inherently less advantageous than having five or six, the handicap can be overcome with careful selection of ratios and proper mapping of the transmission shifting programme. Sadly, the 308’s unit ticks neither boxes.
Which is unfortunate, because the rest of the car is spot on. While the 308 Turbo has all the better toys, it is actually the VTi that has the better balanced ride and handling characteristics. Both have comparable levels of handling, but the VTi feels noticeably more comfortable, thanks no doubt to its higher profile tyres compared to the Turbo.
On the go, the VTi deals pretty well with potholes and various surface imperfections that are part and parcel of Malaysian roads. It rides more pliantly than the Turbo, and exudes an air of solidity which you don’t get elsewhere in this price range. That feeling of quality is reinforced when you hammer the dash with your knuckles, where you will be greeted with premium-feeling soft-touch plastics.
As it was, the Peugeot 308, whichever variant you cared to consider, already made for a fantastic value for money preposition. The newly added goodies make a more convincing case for the VTi, as it actually is the easier version to live with compared to the Turbo. Too bad the deal is soured by a poor transmission, because the rest of the car gets top marks.
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